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Encyclopedia > Muppet (slang)
This photo of a billboard advertisement for Hibernian Direct Limited in Ireland, is an example of the usage of the term as slang.

The term "Muppet" (capitalized), coined in 1954 by Jim Henson for his puppet act, has unofficially become a slang term (lowercase) with different meanings in various regions. The term is currently owned by the Walt Disney Company's subsidiary, Muppets Holding Company. For Aviva Incorporated, operating as Aviva Natural Health Solutions, see Aviva Inc. ... John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together The Muppets are a group of puppets and costume characters created by Jim Henson and the company he created. ... Jim Henson (September 24, 1936 – May 16, 1990) was the most widely known American puppeteer in modern American television history. ... Alternate meanings: Disney (disambiguation) The Walt Disney Company (also known as Disney Enterprises, Inc. ... The Muppets Holding Company, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of media conglomerate The Walt Disney Company, formed in 2004 through the acquiring of The Muppets and Bear in the Big Blue House characters from The Jim Henson Company. ...


Outside of its regional usage -- in the United States for example -- calling an individual a "muppet" has caused some confusion for some, misinterpreting it as a compliment.[1] These cases have assumed a literal interpretation of the Muppet characters, the property for which the term is copyrighted.


Regional usage

In Great Britain and in Ireland the word muppet has come to be used as a mild term of abuse, meaning a stupid, incompetent, or moronic person, or the obvious interpretation of someone who is inanimated or somehow not there. In a physical context alluding to the tendency for Muppets to wave their arms around or otherwise move clumsily on-screen. It is often used mildly affectionately. It can also be applied (in the United Kingdom but not in Ireland) to an aesthetically displeasing individual. [2][3]


The film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, penned by British writer/director Guy Ritchie, features an example of the regional usage of the term in pop culture. The character "Hatchet" Harry Lonsdale (played by P.H. Moriarty) remarks, "I don't want to know who you use, as long as they're not complete muppets."[4] Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) is a violent, English black comedy film directed and written by Guy Ritchie. ... Guy Ritchie (born 10th September 1968 in Hatfield, Hertfordshire[1]) is an English writer-director. ...


The term muppetry is also rapidly gaining popularity as a description for an individual, or group of people collectively behaving in a muppet like fashion. The origins are believed to have come from workers in large organisations, who were unhappy with the low to non-existent level of thought or application, that other colleagues put into their work. For example - "I'm sorry the figures will be late this quarter, due to the high amount of muppetry going on in the accounts department", or "Gregory's muppetry appears to have been infectious."[5]


The popular BBC Radio 2 DJ Steve Wright often gives contestants of his 'Big Quiz' a 'stificate of muppetry' for contestants who fail spectacularly on the general knowledge questions.[6] BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBCs national radio stations and is the most popular station in the UK. It broadcasts throughout the UK on FM radio between 88 and 91 MHz from its studios in Western House, adjacent to Broadcasting House in central London. ... DJ or dj may stand for Disc jockey, dinner jacket The DeadJournal website, or Djibouti. ... Stephen Richard (Steve) Wright (born August 26, 1954 in Greenwich, London) is a radio broadcaster in the United Kingdom. ...


In Law Enforcement circles, Muppet has been held to stand for 'Most Useless Police Person Ever Trained'.[7]


In Mexico there's a drink called Muppet, wherein a shot of tequila is added to a shot of lemon-lime soda in a glass. It then is pounded on the table and is drunk in one shot. [8]


References

  1. ^ Orlando Sentinel "MLS rankings: It's the Muppet Show" by Brant Parsons, 06/19/07
  2. ^ The Mighty Muppets UK softball team
  3. ^ The Daily Record "Chef Sacked for Calling Boss's Son a Muppet" 08/14/07
  4. ^ IMDb memorable quotes
  5. ^ Richard Jolley comic strip
  6. ^ The Zimble Zone
  7. ^ Officer Blog - A Tale Of Modern Policing
  8. ^ Muppet, alcoholic drink. Webtender.

 

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